The word "dagoes" used in the line "Why, I heard tell that in North Caroliney, they have a whole regeement made upa Dagoes" is a little-used offensive term for Italians. I'm not promoting the usage of the word, I'm just showing the xenophobia that was entrenched in 19th century America.

Gordon's hatred of blacks and Jews mirrors Hitler's.

MacPherson's Lament was a real song sung by the 19th century Anglo-Scottish army.

The maps of Alaska in Lincoln's ofice are references to how the US bought Alaska; in this story, that hasn't happened...yet.

The term "president's office" is correct. The famed Oval Office wasn't even a room until 1909, during William Howard Taft's administration.

General Pickett was a real general who led the famous failure that was the Confederate charge at Gettysburg. However, that failed charge never happens in my story.

The "American People's Party" is based on Germany's National Socialist Party.

In Gordon's campaign speech, the first line is based on the Ku Klux Klan rally scene from the movie "Oh Brother, Where art Thou?"

In Gordon's campaign speech, the line about "the disgraceful treaty" is a reference to the way Hitler used to talk about the Treaty of Versailles.

In Gordon's campaign speech, the line "Four score and eight years ago, our forefathers brought into being our Grand Republic" is a reference to the famous Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Gordon being a Virginia native and thus, a "foreigner," mirrors Hitler, who was not German, but Austrian.

The line in the campaign speech where Gordon refers to a "Hamlin" is a reference to Lincoln's first vice president Hannibal Hamlin.

Ambrose E. Burnside, Gordon's vice president, was a famous Union general in real life.

In Gordon's campaign speech, the line where he says "I am America and America is me!" is a reference to the famous Triumph of the Will speech. In it, Nazi big-wig Rudolf Hess shouts "Hitler is Germany! Germany is Hitler!"

The Union recession following defeat in the Civil War is based on the Great Depression in the German Weimar Republic following WWI.

The way "Gordon ordered the state militias to provide 20,000 soldiers "to suppress, by force, if necessary, the Mormon usurpers," is similar to what Lincoln did at the beginning of the Civil War in real life.

"Deseret" was once a real place. War broke out between Mormons and the US in the mid-1800's.

General Custer was at Appomattox when the war ended in real life. He was famous for making his highly stupid Last Stand at Little Bighorn. His "lightning war" tactic in my story is another Nazi reference; the English translation of "Blitzkreig" is "Lightning War."

General Joe Hooker was a real Union general.

The Confederate "slave colonies" are supposed to mirror Liberia, a US-established country to deport slaves to.

There actually was a Paraguayan dictator named Fransisco Lopez who fought a bloody war with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Brigham Young was a Mormon leader in real life. There is even a modern college named Brigham Young University.

The Gordon-founded "Congressional Commitee on Un-patriotic Activities" is a reference to the Stalinist trials in the Soviet Union.

The Presidential Guards are the product of, as the story suggested, my reading about the French Royal Swiss Guards and Spanish Wallooon Guards. It was also based on the German SS.

The place where it says Gordon's coup d'état took place on George Washington's birthday is a nod to how the famous Nazi Kristallnacht took place on famous Protestant preacher Martin Luther's birthday.

J.E.B. Stuart, who became the CSA's president in my story, died in the Civil War in real life.

In case you aren't American and don't get the joke about Sarge's real name, John W. Booth was the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater after the end of the war in real life.

General von Bredow, the Prussian Jake Lee shoots, was an actual Prussian General in the Franco-Prussian War who actually did lead a disasterous cavalry charge in battle.

The "Big Four" is a reference to Churchill, Stalin, and FDR during WWII. They were known as the "Big Three."

The "Quadruple Alliance" was actually an alternate name for the Central Powers in WWI. Although, I had no idea of that when I wrote it, unbelievably.

"Operation: Northern Lion" in my story is a reference to the Nazi "Operation: Barbarossa." "Northern Lion" was what people called the Swedish monarch Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years War. "Barbarossa" was a German king during the Crusades.

The books Lincoln prescribes to the publisher are real and were the books the USSR were founded upon.

In my story, William McKinely, an angry officer, shot Lincoln. You may know that McKinely, in real life, was president of the US at the turn of the century. What you may not know, however, is that McKinely himself was assassinated in real life.

Gordon's line: “Christmas Day, 1871; a day which will forever live in infamy," is an obvious nod to FDR's speech about Pearl Harbor.

I hope this helps people enjoy the story!

_________________LEGO Builder, Writer, Video-Gamer, Greaser, History Professor, Swordsman, and Military Collector. I am the Most Interesting Man in the World. :p

Very Nice, cool how you worked in real things ... in an alternate world.

Yup, lots of alternate history writers do that. Harry Turtledove, for one. In "Man with the Iron Heart," Turtledove crafted a world where the Nazis practiced guerrila warfare against the Allies until the Allies withdrew. Much of the story was a "Vietnam" scenario, with all of the guerrilas wuping the Allies formal military.

_________________LEGO Builder, Writer, Video-Gamer, Greaser, History Professor, Swordsman, and Military Collector. I am the Most Interesting Man in the World. :p

Jake Lee looked at the troops in front of him. After Frankfurt, Jake had been promoted to sergeant. The chevron medal on his collar gleemed in the early Monday morning sunlight. It was January 1st, 1872. Jake walked up to a trooper in the ranks, "What in hades is the meaning of this, Taylor?! This gun is filthy, filthy! Why in hades is it filthy?! If you were called to action right now with that gun, it'd blow up in yer face! Now, Taylor, I'm going to give you six minutes to go clean that gun. If you aren't back by then, I'll tan yer hide! Now git goin'!" he screamed at the newest recruit. Taylor scrambled off to go clean his weapon.

Jake continued up and down the ranks. Now he saw why Booth was always so grumpy with his men. Jake's eyes bulged as he looked at trooper Cooper, "God Zeus, Cooper! Where's yer gunbelt?" Jake waved his arms in frustration. Most of his old comrades were now part of other units or dead. Now he was stuck with this pack of babies who could not clean their rifles or keep track of their equipment.

Cooper looked fearfully at Jake, "I-I-I don't know, sir. I thought-" he was interrupted by Jake.

Cooper looked as if he didn't know how to respond, "Uh...no, sir! Y-you are absolutely right! I'll do better, sergeant, sir!"

Jake put a cigar into his mouth, and between exhaling, he said, "That better be so! My goodness! What kinda Southerners are ya anyway? Ye'd all faint if ya went inta battle," he shouted, "Rhaagg..." he screamed, throwing his gray tasseled hat on the dead winter grass. He was having a terrible day. The new recruits who had volunteered to serve in Europe were the sissified sons of plantation owners who thought they could loaf, hang around bars, and eat escargo and pasta. Well, Jake had had it up to here with their nonsense and he was going to teach them a lesson, "Listen up, ladies!" he spat at his troops in a harsh voice, "I don't like you! You're fat, ignorant, lazy, stubborn, greedy, brainless sons o' rich fools! I'm gonna teach ya a lesson ya won't forget! In fact, after I'm done with you incompetent, bumbling, baboons, you'll think I'm the meanest man this side o' hades! But I'll make ya inta good soldiers or I'll eat my hat."

It was then that one of the troopers, Terry Willis, fell onto his back. Jake couldn't believe it, "Whattya doin', Willis? Are ya havin' fun? Ohhh...I see what yer tryin' to do! Yer tryin' to make a snow angel! Aww...how sweet!" he said mockingly, "I know! Once yer done with that, we can make a snowman! Won't that be fun? I have a carrot for his nose, too, 'sonny.' And maybe we can go pick some flowers in the meadow and take them to the pretty pink castle in the forest and play with the deer!" then, his voice went back to normal, "What are ya doin'?! Why are you on the ground?!"

Willis started picking himself up, "Sorry, Sarge, I fell over 'cause this blamed backpack is so heavy!" Jake rolled his eyes. Another prissy rich man's son who was an absolute weakling.

Jake picked up his hat and said, "Yer backpack is too...heavy? Maybe I should get someone to carry it for you? Would ya like that?"

Willis hustled off to the kitchen. KP(Kitchen Patrol) was a legendary military punishment; hours upon hours of peeling potatoes. Willis would undoubtably get blisters on his dainty hands. He had never done any hard labor.

By then, the recruits were terrified of Jake. For the next twenty grueling minutes, he combed the ranks, yelling at the top of his lungs. Jake had matured since Frankfurt and now took his job as sergeant very seriously. If his men would shape up, things would go smoothly and he would not have to yell, but they gave him no choice.

Suddenly, a corporal came riding up on a horse, "Message for you, Sergeant Lee," the corporal said. He saluted Jake and handed him an envelope. Jake took the packet and ripped it open.

After taking out the message, he read the message:

To: Sergeant Jake Lee, CSA Army

From: Army Headquarters, Richmond, Virginia, CSA

Sergeant Lee, we wish to inform you that the USA has declared war on the CSA. We are now at war with our Northern cousin. We are familiar with your exploits in Frankfurt and wish to ship you back for the defence of the Confederacy. If you accept, which we hope you will, you may take up to four of your soldiers with you. If you wish to come back, report to Admiral Jonathan Davies, Navy, CSA, in Calais on Saturday, January 6th.

Good luck, President J.E.B. Stuart, CSA

Jake was stunned. War had broken out between the North and South again! Walking over to his men, he addressed them, "Men, we gonna kill us some yankees! Yee-haw! War's broken out between our fair Confederacy and them thievin' Northern goons, and I'm going to go back to the States. This message says I may take up to four of you back with me. I choose: Private Thomas Jefferson Taylor...Private Winfield Abraham Cooper...Private Terry Willis...and Private Antonio Smith. I'm gonna make soldiers out of those fops yet."

_________________LEGO Builder, Writer, Video-Gamer, Greaser, History Professor, Swordsman, and Military Collector. I am the Most Interesting Man in the World. :p

Last edited by Napoleon on Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The four recruits groaned when Jake called their name. Jake might have been young for a sergeant, but he knew how to act like an old one. The four went back to the living area and folded up their tents. Grabbing their supplies, they went back to Jake.

"Good, men. We have a supply train going to Calais and we're hitchin' a ride. We should be in Georgia 'fore long. I'll look after ya, but don't expect me to babysit you men. I'll teach ya the basics and once I do that, you're on your own. This won't be fun, men, but we're fightin' fer the Confederacy, so let's make our folks proud of us," said Jake. He picked up his pack and rifle and motioned for the recruits to follow. Five minutes later, they were at a different place in camp.

A burly man with a goatee stepped out of a tent, "Hey, buddy! I'm comin' with you!"

Jake looked at the man, "Jeffy? Well, I'll be! I wondered what happened to you! Where ya been?"

Jeffy adjusted his white belt, "I was...at the Scandinavian Front. It was...bad. Real bad. Pierre got it in the leg. He's doin' okay now, though. He...saved my life. The doctors had to cut off his leg. He's down near Italy at his family home."

Jake looked down at the ground solemnly, "That's...too bad. He's a good fella. Things like this always happen in war. That's why they say never to get too attached. Oh, well, at least he's alive. So, you're gettin' transferred too?"

Jeffy nodded with a big smile, "Oh, yes! They've asked me to transfer to Georgia. I had a choice, 'cause I'm a sergeant too. I chose to go 'cause I heard tell you were doin' the same. We'll fight together again! We'll kick the dang yankees outa the South and invade the North. It'll be glorious!"

While this discussion was going on, the Union army crossed the Mason and Dixon Line. 1,500,000 troopers attacked the CSA in Operation: Swift Strike. General Custer attacked from Deseret with his veterans and attacked Baja. While General McClellan, now head of the Grand Army, attacked Maryland.

But the South was not unprepared. Launching the Army of Virginia, General Pickett attacked McClellan's invasion force and ripped it to shreads. Retreating, McClellan ordered General Grant's Army of Ohio to immediately attack the oncoming Confederate army. Combining forces at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, the Union army smashed into Baltimore.

The Battle of Baltimore was an utter embarrasment for the Union. Outnumbering the Southern army five to one, McClellan thought victory was assured, and ordered only half of his soldiers to attack. Opening fire with everything they had, the Confederates wiped out the attack. Fuming, McClellan ordered the rest of his force to await reinforcements from New York. They were en route, but they could not get there fast enough. General Pickett ordered the army to attack the Union Army. This is where historians agree that the Union army might have crushed the South and won the war immediately. But instead of making a stand and having a huge chance of victory, McClellan ordered a retreat in hopes of meeting the en route reinforcements, but instead was attacked from the rear. The yankee troops panicked and fled for their lives.

_________________LEGO Builder, Writer, Video-Gamer, Greaser, History Professor, Swordsman, and Military Collector. I am the Most Interesting Man in the World. :p

Last edited by Napoleon on Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Oooo they're at it again!! Should be interesting, indeed.Nice interaction with Jake, that would really stink - going from seasoned soldiers to new, lazy recruits. Good descriptions and interaction exchanges

_________________... being customized ... by the Master ... ><>minfig art!

Sweet story! This is a great story you are writing, Napoleon. I have never seen an alternate history story before and thanks for introducing me to that genre! The story is flowing great and I can't wait for more chapters!

Oooo they're at it again!! Should be interesting, indeed.Nice interaction with Jake, that would really stink - going from seasoned soldiers to new, lazy recruits. Good descriptions and interaction exchanges

Yes, the North and South just don't know when to quit, do they?

I kept reading the scene where he inspects the troops out loud, trying to see how angry I could make it. Reading it out loud really helped me come up with dialogue.

_________________LEGO Builder, Writer, Video-Gamer, Greaser, History Professor, Swordsman, and Military Collector. I am the Most Interesting Man in the World. :p

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